Soap dispenser



P. G. HANLON SOAP DISPENSER Feb. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 6,1956 ma .WH

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United States Patent O SOAP DISPENSER Patrick G. Hanlon, Kansas City,Kans.

Application August 6, 1956, Serial No. 602,180

9 Claims. (Cl.f222256) This invention relates to a dispenser for soap orthe like Vof paste or semi-liquid Vform and is a continuation in part ofmy application for patent, Serial No. 478,286, filed December 29, 1954,now Patent No. 2,765,964.

It is vthe principal object of the present invention to provide a soapdispenser or the like of paste or semiliquid form from a dispenserhaving a base provided with a cylinder in which a sleeve member isadapted to slidably engage and in which sleeve a plunger is adapted toreciprocate for forcing the soap from the container without the use ofball or other type valves; to provide for creating a vacuum in thesleeve member and cylinder for aid in pulling the soap from thecontainer; to provide openings in the sleeve member in offset relationwhereby the plunger will open one opening to receive a charge of soapfrom the container and close off the soap from the container whiledispensing the soap from the cylinder; to provide a spring tensionplunger having a piston on one end operable in the sleeve member; toprovide means for preventing rotationof the sleeve member; to provide abase member having an annular groove of a larger diameter than the baseof the container whereby the circumferential edge of the container isforced thereinto to retain the container on the base; to provide meansfor exerting pressure on the soap in the container; and to provide adevice of this character simple and economical to manufacture.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my soap dispenser shown attached toasupport above a wash bowl. l

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section view through the container.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view particularly illustratingthe'plunger in position of loading of the soap in the cylinder. p p

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the piston in thecylinder forcing the soap through the discharge 1 opening.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on 'a-line-` 5-5,

Fig. 6 'is a cro'sssectional view taken on ua line 6 6, Fis.. 2. I Y Y.

,1Fi`g. 7'is -a cross sectional view taken on `a line 77, Fi'g..`5.

' ylFikg. Sis a'bottonrplan'view-'of'thedispenser. Referring'more indetail to the drawings: 'lgde'si'gnates'a dispenser for soap orthe likeembodying the :features of my invention comprising 'a cylindricalhousing or container 2 having :an 'open'top 3"an'd a y cover 4.The'bot'tom of the container 2 is'also Aopen .as

indicated at"5 and the circumferentiale'dge 6 titer-eef'l is pressedinto an annular groove 7 'of vvabasemember'S having'- an'y upstandingcircumferentialboss 19 for embracing^the= lower side vof the `container'-2as-b'vstri1lustrted `in FigfZ.

l2,824,673 Patented F eb. 25, 1.958

Cover 4 includes a follower 10 for the soap 11, the follower beingattached to the cover by a chain 12, and the cover also includes a knob13.

The follower plate .10 will exert a pressure on the soap 11 and dispenseit as will later be shown.

The base includes a bracket 14 for fastening of the device to a wall orsupport by screws 15 as is the usual practice. Extending across themajority portion of the bottom 16 of the base is a longitudinal lug orrib 17 having a semi-circular groove '18. Secured to the rib 17 by setscrews or the like 19 is a plate 20 having a longitudinal semi-circulargroove 21 for mating with the semi-circular groove 18 in the base toprovide a cylindrical compartment 22 in said base member. In the bottom16 of the base member 8 is an opening 23 in .substantially the centerthereof forming a throat leading into the cylindrical compartment 22.The rib 17 is recessed around said opening 23 to receive resilientsealing ring or the like 24, the ring being of neoprene or other similarproduct. The ring will prevent leakage of the soap around the cylinderas will later be shown.

The bracket- 14 is a part of longitudinally running flanges 25 and 26formed integrally with the base member and curved as indicated at 27having a cutout portion 28 to receive the end of the plate 20 which inturn has a cylindrical recess 30 aligning with a semi-circular recess 31in the base to accommodate the reduced end 32 of a cylindrical sleevemember 33 having an annular ange 34 at the reduced portion which is ofthe same size as the cylindrical compartment 22. The inner end of thesleeve member 33 has an opening 35 for receiving a plunger 36 whichextends through the sleeve member and on the outer end of which is acollar 37 and a knob 38. The plunger 36 has a piston 39 on its other endwhich is screw threadedly attached thereto. The piston has annulargrooves 40 and 41` for receiving resilient rings or the like 42 and 43such as neoprene, rubber or the like. Surrounding the plunger or shank36 is a coil spring 44 having one end engaging against the shoulder 45of the sleeve member 33 and its other end against a sleeve washer' 46which exerts pressure to hold the plunger 36 in an outward direction asindicated in Fig. 3.

Located within the cylindrical compartment 22 of the base is a sleevemember 47 having one end engaging against the annular flange 34 of thesleeve member 33. lt will be noted the cylindrical compartment 22 has arc duced end as indicated at 48 forming an annular shoulder 49 againstwhich the inner end of the sleeve member 47 abuts. The inner end of thesleeve 47 has an inwardly extending annular shoulder 5t) and oppositelyfacing notches 51 and 51. The piston 39 on the plunger 36 engages in acylinder 52 which engages within the sleeve member 47. Cylinder 52 has aclosed end 53 and a reduced portion 54 forming an annular shoulder 55against which the end 56 of the piston is adapted to engage. The hollowportion of the cylinder 52 provides a compartment 57 and alignedopenings 58 and 59 are provided in the thickened portion of the cylinderto provide for entry in dispensing of the soap to the compartment 57 aswill later be described. The closed end 53 of thecylinder 52 has a atextension member 6) which will align with the notches 51 and 51 inthe'end `-of the sleeve member 47 and ywill slide therein to preventrotation of the .cylinderY The opening 6l is spaced tion 21 of the platemember 20 is a longitudinal groove 66 leading to an opening 67 formed inthe plate 20 near the forward end of the plate member as bestillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Semi-cylindrical portion 21 is providednear the closed end with a small rim 68 below the flat extension 6)provided to engage in the notch 51 of the sleeve member 47 to preventrotation of the sleeve member 47 in the compartment or cylindricalhousing 22.

The base forms a bottom 69 for the compartment or container for the soap11, and the bottom is provided with a plurality of nibs 70 upon whichthe follower plate 10 will rest when the soap is dispensed from thecontainer.

The bottom 69 is slightly dished as illustrated in Fig. 2 so that thesoap will substantially all be drained from the container.

In assembling a device constructed as described, the container 2 ispressed into the base 8 so that the lower circumferential edge 6 will bepressed into the annular groove 7 of the base to retain the samethereon. It will be noted that the annular groove 7 extends with itslower part slightly outwardly as indicated at 71 so that after pressingthe container into the groove a better interlocking of the containerwith the base will be accomplished.

The sleeve 46, and thereafter the coil spring 44, are then placed overthe shank 36. The shank 36, with the sleeve 46 and the spring 44thereon, is then inserted in the sleeve 33 with the seal ring 63 on itsreduced part 32 whereby the threaded end of the shank 36 will extendthrough the opening in the sleeve 33 after which t-he piston 39 isthreaded thereon, thus locking the shoulder between the spring 44 andpiston 39. The cylinder 52 is then placed over the piston 39 and itsresilient rings 42 and 43 and then the sleeve member 47 is engaged overthe cylinder 52 and the larger end of the sleeve 33 until the extensionmember on the cylinder 52 engages in the notches 51 and 51 of the sleevemember 47 and the outer end of the sleeve member 47 contacts the annularflange 34 on sleeve 33 whereby the openings 58 in cyinder 52 and 61 insleeve member 47 will come into alignment.

The assembled dispenser mechanism is then placed in the semi-circulargroove 18 of the lug 17 whereby the seal ring 63 is between the frontwall 64 and annular flange 34 and the aligned openings 58 and 61 will bein line with openings 23 in the bottom 16 of the base. Then the plate 20is assembled over the sleeve and plunger assembly with the semi-circulargroove 21 engaging over the lower portion of the sleeve member 47 andwith the front wall of the plate 20 engaging within the cutout pol'-tion 28 of the base wall 64, thus pressing the lower part of the sealring 63 between wall 65 and lower portion of the annular ange 34. Theplate 20 is then secured to the base or longitudinal rib 17 by setscrews 19 and the device is ready for operation.

The follower plate 10 will rest on top of the soap 11 and create aslight pressure thereon. When the plunger with the piston member isurged outwardly by the coil spring 44, there will be a vacuum created inthe compartment 57 which tends to draw the soap through the opening 23in the bottom of the container, through the opening 61 in thecylindrical sleeve member 47 and through the opening 58 in cylinder 52into the compartment 57 (Fig. 3).

To dispense the soap the knob 38 is pressed inwardly urging the piston39 with the cylinder 52 which contains the compartment 57 forwardlywithin the sleeve member 47 thereby moving the flat extension 60 on thecylinder 52 through the notches 51 and 51 until the closed end 53 of thecylinder 52 engages the inner portion of the annular shoulder 5!) onsleeve member 47 and stops the forward movement of the cylinder 52. Inthis position, the lower opening 59 in the cylinder 5 2 is then inalignment with the opening 62 in the cylinder or sleeve 47. Continuedforward movement of the plunger and piston 39 wit-hin the cylinder 52(Fig. 4) will then force the soap from the compartment 57 through theopenings 59 and 62 to passageway 66. To repeat this movement, theforward pressure on the knob 38 and plunger 36 is released whereby thecompressed spring will press against the sleeve 46 on the shaft orplunger 36 forcing the plunger back into a position as shown in Fig. 3.The cylinder 52 which engages over the piston 39 and resilient rings 42and 43 will follow this movement whereby the opening 58 in the cylinder52 will again be in alignment with the openings 23 and 61 to rellcompartment 57 in cylinder 52 (Fig. 3). The above described movement ofthe plunger is continued until a sufficient amount of soap has passedthrough the passageway 66, opening 67 and a spout 72 to the user.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improvedsoap dispenser or the like wherein the soap will be dispensed from thecontainer in measured amounts with few working parts and whicheliminates valves as heretofore been used.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispenser of the character described comprising, a container forthe soap having an open end, means in said container exerting pressureon said soap, a base having an outwardly tiared groove therein, the openend of said container being pressed into said groove, said base beingprovided with a longitudinal cylindrical chamber therein, said chamberhaving an open end near one side of the container having an annularflange around said opening and having an opening in one side connectingwith said container and a duct through which the soap is dispensed, avalve for dispensing said soap comprising, a sleeve member in saidchamber one end of which is provided with an inwardly extending annularshoulder and having openings in opposite sides, said openings beingoffset with each other, a short sleeve having a closed end slidable inthe sleeve member, said sleeve having a reduced portion in the closedend forming a compartment and having aligned openings through the sleeveand said compartment, a third sleeve engaging in the open end of thesleeve member and having an annular shoulder engaging against the end ofthe sleeve member, said third sleeve extending outwardly from one sideedge of the container, sealing means between said annular shoulder andthe annular flange around the opening in said base, the inner end of thethird sleeve being reduced and having an opening in the inner end, aplunger having a threaded inner end slidable in said third sleeve, meansin said third sleeve urgingsaid plunger outwardly, a piston on saidthreaded end slidable in the second sleeve, sealing means on the piston,whereby movement of the piston outwardly will create a vacuum in thecompartment in the second sleeve to assist in movement of the soap fromthe container in measured amounts to said compartment and movement ofthe piston inwardly will move the second sleeve inwardly along with thepiston to close the opening to the container and continued inwardmovement of the piston will force the soap from the compartment throughthe lower opening and through the duct in said base.

2. A dispenser of the character described comprising, a container forthe soap having an open end, means in said container exerting pressureon said soap, a base having an outwardly ared groove therein, the openend of said container being pressed into said groove, said base beingprovided with a longitudinal cylindrical chamber therein, said chamberhaving an open end near one side of the container having an annularflange around said opening and having an opening in one side connectingwith said container and a duct through which the soap is dispensed fromthe chamber, a valve for dispensing said soap comprising, a sleevemember in said chamber one end of which is provided with an inwardlyextending annular shoulder and oppositely facing notches and havingopenings in opposite sides near the notched end, said openings beingoffset with each other, a short sleeve having a closed end slidable inthe sleeve member and having an extension thereon engaging in saidnotches, said sleeve-having Va reduced portion in the closed end forminga compartment and having aligned openings through the sleeve and saidcompartment, a third sleeve engaging in the open end of the sleevemember and having an annular shoulder engaging against the end of thesleeve member, said third sleeve having a reduced end extendingoutwardly from one side edge of the container, sealing means betweensaid annular shoulder and the annular ange around the opening in saidbase, the inner end of the third sleeve being reduced and having anopening in the inner end, a

`plunger having a threaded inner end slidable in said third sleeve,means in said third sleeveurging'said plunger outwardly, a piston onsaid threaded end slidable in the second sleeve, sealing means on thepiston, whereby movement of the .piston outwardly will create a vacuumin the compartment in the second sleeve lto assist in movement of thesoap from the container in measured amounts to said compartment andmovement of the piston inwardly will move the second sleeve inwardlyalong with the piston to close the opening to the Ycontainer andcontinued inward movement of the piston will force the soap from thecompartment through the lower opening and through the duct in said base.

3. In combination with a container for soap having a base provided witha longitudinal cylindrical chamber in said base, said chamber having anopen end near one side of the container having an opening in one sideconnecting with said container anda duct through which the soap isdispensed, a valve for dispensing said soap comprising, a sleeve memberin said chamber one end of which is provided with oppositely facingnotches and having openings in opposite sides near the notched end, saidvopenings'being offset with each other, a short sleeve havying a closedend slidable in the sleeve member and having an extensionthereonengaging insaid notches, said sleeve having arreduced portion in theclosed end forming 'a compartment and having aligned openings throughthe sleeve and said compartment, a third sleeve engaging in the open endof the sleeve member and having an annular shoulder engaging againsttheend of the sleeve member, said third sleeve having a reduced endextending outwardly from one side edge of the container, sealing meansVbetween said annular shoulder and said base, the inner end of the thirdsleeve being reduced and having an opening in the inner end, a plungerhaving a threaded inner end slidable in said third sleeve, means in saidthird sleeve urging said plunger outwardly, a piston on said threadedend slidable in the second sleeve, sealing means on the piston, wherebymovement of the piston outwardly will create a vacuum in the compartmentin the second vsleeve Vto assist i'n movement of the soap from thecontainer in measured amounts to said compartment and movement'of thepiston inwardly will move the second sleeve inwardly along 'with thepiston to close the opening to the container and continued inwardmovement of the piston will force the soapfrom the compartment throughthe lower opening and through the duct in said base.

4. In combination with a container for soap having a base provided witha longitudinal cylindrical chamber in said base, said chamber having anopen end near one side of the container having an opening in one sideconv necting with said container and a duct through which the soap isdispensed, a valve for dispensing said soap comprising, a sleeve memberin said chamber one end of which is provided with openings in oppositesides near the inner end, said openings being oiset with each other,

`6 from one-side edge of thebase of thecontainer, the inner end ofthethird sleeve being reduced and having an Aopening in the inner end, aplunger having la threaded inner yend slidable in said third sleeve,means in said third sleeve urging said plunger outwardly, a piston onsaid threaded end slidable in the second sleeve, sealing' means on thepiston, whereby movement of the .piston outwardly will create a vacuumin the compartment in the second sleeve to assist in movement ofthe soapfrom the ycontainer in measured amounts to said compartment and movementof the piston inwardly will move the second sleeve inwardly along withthe piston to close the opening to the container and continued inwardmovement'of the piston will force the soap from the compartment throughthe lower opening and through the duct in said base.

5. In combination with ya container for soap vhaving a base providedwith alongitudinal cylindrical chamber in said base, said chamber havingany open end near one side of the container havingan opening `in onesideconnecting with said container and a duct through which the soap isdispensed, a valve for dispensing saidsoap cornprising, a sleeve memberin said chamber one endof which is provided with openings in oppositesides near the inner end, said openings being'otfset with each other, ashort sleeve having a closed end slidable in the l'sleeve member, meanson said sleeve member and said 'sleeve to prevent rotation of saidsleeve insaid sleeve member,

lsaid sleeve having a reduced portion in the closed end forming acompartment and having aligned Vopenings through the sleeve and saidcompartment, a third sleeve engaging in theopen'end of the sleeve memberand havinner-endet the third sleeve being reduced and having anopeningin the inner end, a plunger having a threaded inner end slidablein said third sleeve, lmeans in said third sleeve urging said plunger0utwardly,'a'piston on said threaded end slidable in the second sleeve,sealing means on the piston, whereby movement of the piston outwardlywill create a vacuum in the compartment Vin the second sleeve toassist-in movement of the soap from the container in measured amounts tosaid compartment and movement of the piston inwardly will move thesecond sleeve inwardly along with the piston to close the opening to thecontainer and continued inward movement of the piston will force thesoap from the compartment through the lower opening and throughthe ductin said base.

6. In combination with a container for soap having Va vbase providedwith a longitudinal cylindrical chamber vin said base, said chamberhaving an open end near one sideof the container having an annularflange around said opening and having an opening in' one side connectingwith said container and a duct through which the soap is dispensed, avalve for dispensing said soap comprising, a sleeve member in saidchamber one end of which is provided with an inwardly extending annularshoulder and oppositely facing notches and having openings in oppositesides near the notched ends, said openings being ofrset with each other,a short sleeve having a closed end slidable in the sleeve member andhaving an extension thereon engaging in said notches, said sleeve havinga reduced portion in the closed end forming a compartment and havingaligned openings through the sleeve and said compartment, a third sleeveengaging in the open end of the sleeve member and having an annularshoulder engaging against the end of the sleeve member, said thirdsleeve having a reduced end extending outwardly from one side edge ofthe base of the container, sealing means between said annular shoulderand the annular ange around the opening in said base, the inner end ofthe third sleeve being reduced and having an opening in the inner end, aplunger having a threaded inner end slidable in said third sleeve, meansin said third sleeve urging said plunger outwardly, a piston on saidthreaded end slidable in the second sleeve, sealing means on the piston,whereby movement of the piston outwardly will create a vacuum in thecompartment in the second sleeve to assist in movement of the soap fromthe container in measured amounts to said compartment and movement ofthe piston inwardly will move the second sleeve inwardly along with thepiston to close the opening to the container and continued inwardmovement of the piston will force the soap from the compartment throughthe lower opening in the sleeve member and through the duct in saidbase.

7. In combination with a container for soap having a base provided witha longitudinal cylindrical chamber in said base, said chamber having anopen end near one side of the container having an annular ange aroundsaid opening and having an opening in one side connecting with saidcontainer and a duct through which the soap is dispensed, a valve fordispensing said soap comprising, a sleeve member in said chamber one endof which is provided with an inwardly extending annular shoulder andoppositely facing notches and having openings in opposite sides near thenotched ends, said openings being offset with each other, a short sleevehaving a closed end slidable in the sleeve member and having anextension thereon engaging in said notches, said sleeve having a reducedportion in the closed end forming a compartment and having alignedopenings through the sleeve and said compartment, a third sleeveengaging in the open end of the sleeve member and having an annularshoulder engaging against the end of the sleeve member, said thirdsleeve having a reduced end extending outwardly from one side edge ofthe 'base of the container, sealing means between said annular shoulderand the annular flange around the opening in said base, the inner end ofthe third sleeve being reduced and having an opening in the inner end, aplunger having a threaded inner end slidable in said third sleeve, meansin said third sleeve urging said plunger outwardly, a piston on saidthreaded end slidable in the second sleeve, a spaced sealing ring on thepiston, whereby movement of the piston outwardly will create a vacuum inthe compartment in the second sleeve to assist in movement of the soapfrom the container in measured amounts to said compartment and movementof the piston inwardly will move the second sleeve inwardly along withthe piston to close the opening to the container and continued inwardmovement of the piston will force the soap from the compartment throughthe lower opening in the sleeve member and through the duct in saidbase.

8. In a soap dispenser including a container having a base provided witha longitudinal cylindrical chamber in said base, said chamber having anopen end near one side of the container having an opening in one sideconnecting with said container and a duct through which the soap isdispensed from the chamber, a valve for dispensing said soap comprising,a sleeve member in said chamber one'end of which is provided with aninwardly extending annular shoulder, said sleeve member having openingsin opposite sides, said openings being offset with each other, a shortsleeve having a closed end slidable in the sleeve member, cooperativemeans on the short sleeverand said sleeve member to hold said sleeves inalignment, said short sleeve having a reduced portion in the closedhendforming a compartment and having aligned openings through the sleeve andsaid compartment, a third sleeve engaging in the open end of the sleevemember and having an annular shoulder engaging against the end of thesleeve member, said third sleeve having a reduced end extendingoutwardly from one side edge of the container, means cooperating withmeans on said base for sealing the open end of the chamber in said base,the inner end of the third sleeve being reduced and having an opening inthe inner end, a plunger having a threaded inner end slidable in saidthird sleeve, means in said third sleeve urging said plunger outwardly,a piston on said threaded end slidable in the second sleeve wherebymovement of the piston outwardly will create a vacuum in the compartmentin the second sleeve to assist in movement of the soap from thecontainer in measured amounts to said compartment and movement of thepiston inwardly will move the second sleeve inwardly along with thepiston to close the opening to the container and continued inwardmovement of the piston will force the soap from the compartment throughthe lower opening and through the duct in said base.

9. In combination with a container for soap having a base provided witha longitudinal cylindrical chamber in said base, said chamber having anopen end near one side of the container and having a duct through whichthe soap is dispensed, valve means for dispensing said soap comprising,a sleeve member in said chamber having a port aligning with said ductand having a port in the opposite side offset longitudinally from thefirst port,

`a shortV sleeve having a closed end slidable in the sleeve member, saidsleeve having a reduced portion in the closed end forming a compartmentand having aligned openings through the sleeve and said compartment, andplunger means engaging in the open end of the chamber, including apiston and means for closing said rst named port, whereby movement ofthe piston outwardly will create a vacuum in the compartment in thesecond sleeve to assist in movement of the soap from the container inmeasured amounts to said compartment and movement of the piston inwardlywill move the second sleeve inwardly along with the piston to close theopening to the container and continued inward movement of the pistonwill force the soap from the compartment through the lower opening andthrough the duct in said base.

No references cited`

